SARTS History in Singapore


1975 – Talking to the world

The first hams in Singapore came from Britain and they arrive in the 1930s. They were assigned the callsign prefix VS1. Hams in the Federated Malaya States were assigned VS2.

1994 – Teens can now apply for ham radio license

After World War II, several Radio Societies were formed in Malaya. The state of Perak had a society, Selangor had a society and there was the Malayan Amateur Radio Transmitters Society or MARTS.

In 1949, while under the administration of the Federation of Malaya (1948 to 1957), the Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (SARTS) was formed and registered. SARTS and the other smaller societies were later absorbed into MARTS which was the largest of the radio societies in Malaya.

On 31 August 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained independence from Britain and being a new country, new entity, they were assigned the 9M prefix.

In 1963, Singapore, together with Sarawak and Sabah, became part of the Federation of Malaya, which then became Malaysia. Singapore, being part of Malaysia, was assigned the 9M4 prefix. Sarawak and Sabah were assigned 9M6.

On 9 August 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia, and we became an independent country. Being another new country, new entity, we were assigned the 9V prefix which is in use till today.

Singapore Hams continued to be part of MARTS until it was decided that it was better for Singapore Hams and Malaysia Hams to have separate societies. The separation was an amicable one.

On 26 August 1968, the present day SARTS was formed. The first president of SARTS was Livin de Souza. The Society continues on till today.